When night falls and the city lights come on, most people bask in the tranquility of the night, looking forward to a comfortable night's sleep. However, for many young people, this is the most anxious and unsettling time of their day. Lying in bed, their minds are filled with endless thoughts and troubles, watching the hands of the clock turn minute by minute, but they still have trouble falling asleep. This phenomenon is called "insomnia".
Insomnia is not just a simple sleep disorder, it is the product of a combination of factors such as stress, pace of life, and lifestyle in today's society. This phenomenon is becoming more prevalent, especially among young people. Some of them are still thinking about work and school in the dead of night, while others are struggling in the blue light of the screen, trying to find a trace of exhaustion. But why is it that these young people, who are full of energy and should be full of energy, are particularly vulnerable to insomnia?
Physiological mechanisms of insomnia
Before delving into the root causes of insomnia, it's crucial to understand how sleep is regulated within the human body. The body's sleep-wake cycle is controlled by a complex circadian clock system that involves multiple regions of the brain, particularly the pineal gland and hypothalamus. Normally, this system precisely regulates the secretion of sleep hormones, such as melatonin, to ensure that people feel sleepy at night and stay awake during the day. However, when this system is out of balance, it can lead to insomnia.
Many factors in modern life, such as irregular schedules and constant light at night, especially blue light from electronic devices, can disrupt this natural rhythm. This disturbance causes changes in the timing of melatonin secretion by the pineal gland, which in turn disrupts a person's sleep patterns. In addition, psychological factors such as stress and anxiety can also affect the function of the hypothalamus, an area that plays a key role in regulating stress responses and sleep.
Modern lifestyle with insomnia
The fast pace of modern life and the ever-changing technological environment have had a significant impact on the quality of sleep in young people. One of the key factors is the widespread use of electronic devices, especially before bedtime. The blue light emitted by these devices can inhibit the secretion of melatonin, a key hormone that regulates the sleep-wake cycle. As a result, people who use their phones or computers at night may find it difficult to sleep.
In addition, work stress and social competition in modern life also have a negative impact on young people's sleep. Long hours of work and work-related stress can increase the psychological burden, causing the brain to be in a constant state of high alertness, making it difficult to relax and fall asleep. Frequent overtime and work stress make it difficult for the brain to "shut down", and even when the body feels tired, the brain continues to function, resulting in difficulty falling asleep or poor sleep quality.
The relationship between psychological factors and insomnia
Psychological factors play an important role in the causes of insomnia. Emotional states such as stress, anxiety, and depression have a profound impact on the human brain, and these effects tend to extend to sleep patterns. For example, constant anxiety can put the brain in a state of high alertness, which is essentially the brain's response to a potential threat. However, when this state of alertness persists, it can interfere with normal sleep patterns, leading to difficulty falling asleep or disrupted sleep.
In addition, depressive conditions can also seriously affect sleep. Individuals in depressive states may experience persistent negative thoughts and low mood that can interfere with the brain's normal regulation of sleep. In this case, the person may find that although they feel tired, they are unable to fall asleep, or they do not sleep deeply and wake up easily.
The link between diet, exercise and sleep quality
Diet and exercise have a direct and important impact on sleep quality. Improper eating Xi, such as consuming too much caffeine or sugar at night, can interfere with normal sleep patterns. Caffeine is a stimulant that blocks the formation of chemicals in the brain that produce drowsiness, making it difficult for a person to fall asleep. Similarly, foods high in sugar can cause blood sugar levels to rise and then fall quickly, and this blood sugar fluctuation may interfere with sleep.
Exercise also has an important impact on sleep. Moderate exercise not only helps to improve the general health of the body but also promotes better sleep. Exercise raises the body's temperature, and the body's cooling process promotes drowsiness. In addition, exercise reduces stress and anxiety, which is important for improving sleep quality.